WILLIAM KENNETH KING

William Kenneth King of Hayes, born April 9, 1918, went to be with his Lord on Oct. 31, 2011.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Willie and Gustava King, and two sisters, Louise Thomas and Doris King, and his first wife, Lois King.

He is survived by his wife, Evelyn King, and a niece, Barbara Pearson Mitchem (Stephen) and great-nephews, Randy, Bill and Alex Carmines.

William left home at age seven to attend the school for the blind at Staunton VSDB. William participated in many activities at the school, including music, where he became an accomplished violinist, harmony and theory. He had no problem because he had absolute pitch.

In 1937 he came back to his native county, Gloucester, as an experimental student. In 1939 he graduated from Achilles High School and in the early 1940s he worked at the Naval Weapons Station in Yorktown. In 1946 he left to work with Virginia Commission for the Visually Handicapped where he worked until 1989. In the early 1950s he began to make his mark as a vendor in the State of Virginia. He was instrumental in training many visually handicapped persons in the vending facility program. In the early 1970s he was very involved with the State and Federal Government in amending the Randolph Sheppard Act for the visually handicapped. William spent many years on the Virginia State Council for the blind vendors where his first priority was to improve the lifestyle of the visually handicapped vendors.

In 1989 he returned to his native County of Gloucester where he brought with him his musical ability. He was a member of Providence Baptist Church and the Fellowship Sunday School Class. He enjoyed music and especially playing his violin at church. William always thought he achieved his goals in life because of his strong faith and belief in God and many friends.

Funeral services conducted by the Rev. Dr. Richard Croxton were held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Providence Baptist Church. Interment followed in Rosewell Memorial Garden Cemetery. The family received friends Tuesday from 7-8 p.m. at Hogg Funeral Home, Gloucester Point.